There’s this band that I have been really into the past year and they are slowing starting to make a name for themselves considering the lead singer is a world reknowned professional longboarder. The band is called The Japanese Motors and they hail from Southern California where surfing and partying is a major theme and really that’s what the music sounds like. Think “Beach Blanket Bingo” meets The Strokes, Ramones and Beach Boys all in one sitting and what you have left is this cool stylish surf rock band.
Their debut album is self titled and offers a variety of great songs that are perfect for hipster parties, long days on the beach or a post surf session listen. Songs like the opener “Single Fins and Safety Pins” set the tone for the album with lyrics about chillin on the beach all day, surfing and then finishing the night off with a solid party. The second track “Regret’s A Paradise” is easily one of my favorites and gives me the vibe of The Stroke’s lead singer fronting for a punky Beach Boys. Later in the album you have a great poppy song in ”Better Trends” that has an awesome guitar riff that feels like palm trees and sandy Vans slip on’s, I mean you feel cool when you are cruising up to the beach listening to this album.
The band mainly started out just for fun playing parties for Alex Knost’s surf buddies and random hipster’s he hangs out with. But they got some attention in the surf and art community and some indie labels started to pay attention to this surf/garage rock phenom and eventually they got signed to release this album. Since then they have played around the country most notably many clubs around the New York area as well as open for a little band called Modest Mouse. If you haven’t heard them yet, please check out their myspace at least to hear some of the tracks and you won’t be disappointed.
